Inspired by Multitalented Author Joelle Charbonneau

Professional athletes who do more than one sport have always intrigued me. Most professionals train their entire lives to hone skills in one craft. So how do some amazing people do more than one? Illinois author Joelle Charbonneau is a rising star in YA fiction, with the second in her bestselling Testing thriller trilogy, Independent Study, due out 1/7. But she is also an accomplished opera performer, and an award winning author of adult mysteries. I’ve attended some of her excellent trainings also. I’m so excited that she and I are going to lead a talk at the Spring Fling conference in April on writing and promoting books for teen and adult audiences. I’d be delighted to have one of these talents, and I was excited to include her in my series of authors who inspire me, as part of the book celebration for my teen mystery, Taking the High Ground. This is a coincidence, as I started writing the book before I met her, but my main character’s name is Joelle. Here’s how Joelle Charbonneau answered my five questions:

Amy: When did you first feel like an author?

Joelle: Um…I don’t think it was actually until this past year. I was at an event where they put all my books in front of me (at the time there were 6) and for the first time I felt like I should call myself an author. Up until then, I kept thinking this writing thing was a fluke and would disappear as quickly as it came. Now, I’m still worried my next book won’t be good enough for my publisher, but even if I never publish again I get to lay claim to the “author” title.

Amy: Which of your works was easiest to write?

Joelle: I would say there were 3 that were equally “easy” (cough, cough…choke. Since writing is never really easy for me…) to write. Those would be Skating Around The Law, Murder For Choir and The Testing. All three were books that weren’t under contract when I wrote them so I was writing just for me. There was no pressure and no deadlines. I just got to follow the story wherever it took me.

Amy: What do you love to do when not writing?

Joelle: Sing…cook…spend time with my 5 year old son. Read! (No one told me that writing would limit the amount of time I had to read!) Oh – and sleep. When I write, I tend to work into the early hours of the morning, which means I look a lot like the walking dead by the time a book is complete.

Amy: What are you reading?

Joelle: Currently, I am reading Allegiant by Veronica Roth. I was late coming to the series (I didn’t read the first two books until I had written my first 2 TESTING trilogy novels) and am curious to see how everything is wrapped up!

Amy: What are you working on now?

Joelle: Currently, I’m working on a brand new young adult thriller that I’m hoping my editor will love. Fingers crossed!

2 Responses to Inspired by Multitalented Author Joelle Charbonneau

I just finished The Testing and can’t wait for Independent Study to be released on Tuesday. I loved The Testing and have been recommending it to everyone I’ve seen since I finished the book. Thanks for the interview. I always enjoy learning more about the authors who provide us with such good reading material.

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